Modelling compressive cracking in concrete by a modified lattice model

The article describes recent advances achieved within the Delft lattice model to improve its ability to simulate compressive cracking in brittle or quasi-brittle materials, like plain concrete. The main modification made to the conventional formulation of the beam lattice is the introduction of an extra step when the beams stiffness is removed. When the failure criterion for an element is first attained, the bending and shear stiffnesses are removed, and later the remaining axial stiffness is removed when the same beam fails again. Although the number of calculations needed increase, the model maintains its simplicity. The presented results are promising, as the model is now able to better localize the damage, giving more realistic crack patterns, load/deformation and rigidity-decay curves.